Disturbed clockwork resetting in Sharp-1 and Sharp-2 single and double mutant mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The circadian system provides the basis to anticipate and cope with daily recurrent challenges to maintain the organisms' homeostasis. De-synchronization of circadian feedback oscillators in humans causes 'jet lag', likely contributes to sleep-, psychiatric-, metabolic disorders and even cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to the disintegration of tissue-specific clocks are complex and not well understood.

Methodology/principal findings

Based on their circadian expression and cell culture experiments, the basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factors SHARP-1(Dec2) and SHARP-2(Stra13/Dec1) were proposed as novel negative regulators of the molecular clock. To address their function in vivo, we generated Sharp-1 and Sharp-2 single and double mutan

SUBMITTER: Rossner MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2447179 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature